JUCO Capsules

GRAND JUNCTION – The Roughriders (49-10) closed matters early by scoring 11 runs in the fifth inning, en route to a 13-3 victory halted by the mercy rule in the sixth. The victory moved Yavapai, with one loss in the double-elimination tournament, to a loser’s out game at 3 p.m. today.The Roughriders sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth, forcing Potomac State to use four pitchers before the onslaught ended. Milton Loo and Dustin Kaats each homered in the inning.Yavapai starter Cameron Wheeler scattered six hits and pitched all six innings for his first tournament victory. Potomac State (41-15) concluded the tournament at 2-2.Late TuesdayWallace State 12, Potomac State 7GRAND JUNCTION – The Lions dented Potomac starter Josh Kuykendall for five runs in the seventh inning, then scored three more in the eighth to pull away from the Catamounts, who held an early 3-1 lead.Taking advantage of untimely Potomac State errors, four of Wallace State’s seventh inning tallies were unearned. Outfielder Chris Hoffer delivered the key hit of the inning – a two-run double – scoring Damien Mazzetti and Zealous Wheeler.Gerard Sokolis, who took over in the fifth, earned the win in relief of starter Rodney Woodson, allowing three earned runs in five innings of work.- Phil Sandoval